Illuminated ornamental object



sept 22,` 1942. E. L. sNYDER ET AL 2,296,746

ILLUMINATED ORNAMENTAL OBJECT Filed May 9, 1940 INVEN TORS L my Ej'fgder am? www ATTORNEYS.

Ezgene L. 'lzjder Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED ILLUMINATED ORNAMENTAL OBJECT' Eugene L. Snyder and Lucy E. Snyder, Canton, Ohio.

Application May 9, 1940; SeriallNo. 334,210'- 1 Claim.

The invention relates to objects formed of transparent plastic materialY capable of transmitting and reflecting light, for ornamental or display purposes, and more particularly tot an article of thisl character which may be of appropriate shape-such asa star, especially adapted for window displays during-theChristmas season.

The object of the invention is to provideY an illuminated ornamental object formed of a transparent plastic material capable of transmitting and reflecting light and hav-ing a glass like appearance.

Another object is to provide anv object of this character having an outwardly directed flanged outline with the edge thereof in a vertical plane parallel to the normal planel of the article, a light being located within a central opening in the back wallof the article so that the light rays therefrom are transmitted through the transparent plastic material to all points of the article and directed forwardly from the marginalV edge thereof.

A further object is to provide such an article with surface ornamentations molded or otherwise formed therein so that the light may be transmitted and reflected therefrom.

A still further object is the provision of an ornamental object of the character referred to in which a perforated disk of metal or other opaque material is mounted in spaced relation in front of the central opening so as to hide the opening as well as the colored light bulb mounted in the opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated ornamental star formed from a single sheet of transparent plastic material having an integral forwardly directed marginal flange and provided over substantially its entire surface with recessed ornamentations, a central opening being formed in the plastic star and a colored light bulb being located in said opening so that the colored light therefrom is transmitted throughout the entire area of the plastic star and directed forwardly through the edge of the marginal flange and reflected from the surface ornamentations.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved illuminated ornamental object in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an illuminated ornamental star formed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2, a vertical sectional View through the star shown in Fig. 1 taken substantially on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the star shown in Figs. l and 2.

Similar numerals refer toY throughout the several views.

The illuminated ornamental object to` whichthe invention pertains may be formed from a single sheet of plastic material capable of: transniitting light in all directions through the material and reflecting light therefrom, and may be molded or otherwisel formed into any desired ornamental shape having a forwardly directedmarginal flange and a central opening to accommodate a colored light bulb.

For the purposel of illustration, the'l inventionis disclosed herein as applied` toan illuminated ornamental star indicated generally at l and provided with five uniformly spaced points. 2.

This star is formed fromV a single sheet of a transparent plastic material having the properties of transmitting light throughout its entire area and in all directions regardless of the conformation of the material. One such plastic material is produced by the Du Pont Company and is known to the trade as Lucite.

A continuous marginal flange 3 is formed entirely around the edge of the star being forwardly directed at right-angles to the normal plane of the article, the forward edge 4 thereof being located in a plane parallel to the normal plane of the back wall 5 of the article.

Surface ornamentations in the form of recesses 6, of any desired shape, may be molded or otherwise formed over substantially the entire front surface of the flat wall 5.

A central opening 1, preferably circular as shown in the drawing, is formed in the flat wall 5 and a colored lamp bulb 8, mounted upon the back of the object, is located at this opening so that the colored light rays therefrom will pass through the edge of the opening 1 and be transmitted throughout the entire area of the plastic star, illuminating all of the points thereof, and due to the peculiar characteristics of this plastic material by which light may be transmitted through any bend or angle therein, the colored light is transmitted through the marginal flange 3 and directed forwardly from the edge 4 thereof `Dutlining the star in colored light.

The colored light is also reflected from all of similar parts the surface ornamentations 6 so as to give a very attractive and pleasing appearance.

The colored lamp bulb 8 may be mounted in the lamp socket 9 formed of any suitable insulation material preferably having flat panels I thereon and fitting in a similarly shaped aperture II in the upper ear I2@ of the lamp bracket I2 and resting upon the lower` ear |217 thereof.

The cord I3 from the lamp socket passes through the aperture I4 in the lower ear |21 and is preferably provided with a knot I5 tied tightly against the under surface of the ear I2b to prevent upward movement of the socket 9, while the flat panels I8 prevent turning movement thereof.

The bracket I2 may be prevented from turning movement relative to the star by providing a1 dimple I6 thereon arranged to be seated in recess II upon the rear surface of the wall 5 of the star.

The usual attachment plug I8 may be located upon the end of the cord I3 for attaching the same to any standard base receptacle.Y

A forked bracket I9 may be connected to the rear side of the star above the central openingv 1, and provided with apertures 28 for attaching a cord, wire, or the like as indicated at 2I which may be used for hanging the star in a window or upon a tree or other support. A dimple 22 may be formed upon the forked bracket I9 for engaging a recess 23 in the wall 5 to prevent turning movement of the bracket.

A disk 24, somewhat larger than the central opening 1, and formed of metal or other opaque material provided with perforations 25` is mounted in spaced relation in front of the wall 5 so as to cover the opening 'I and colored light bulb 8 and is secured to said wall as by the screws 26 located through spacers 21 and through the wall 5 and brackets I2 and I9, nuts 28 being provided upon the rear ends of the screws for assembling the parts.

The light bulb 8 may be of any desired color and is easily replaced, the opening I in addition to allowing light to be transmitted through the edge of the plastic star also providing sufficient space for the fingers and thumb when removing or replacing the light bulb.

The star or other shaped ornament constructed as above described has the appearance of clear transparent glass and when the bulb 8 is lighted the colored light is transmitted throughout the entire area of the plastic object and through the edge of the marginal flange 3, thus, forming a definite outline of the object when viewed from the front.

The surface ornamentations 6 are also lighted by the colored light, partly by transmission of light through the plastic and partly by reflection of light from the bulb.

The perforated opaque disk 24 while hiding the central opening and light bulb permits the colored light to pass through the perforations.

We claim:

An illuminated ornamental five pointed star formed of a single sheet of transparent plastic material provided with a continuous, forwardly disposed, angular flange around its edge and having a central opening therein, an angular bracket upon the rear side of the star below said central opening, a light bulb socket carried by said bracket, a light bulb in the socket located slightly back of the central opening to permit heat from the light bulb to rise behind the plastic star and to permit easy replacement of the light bulb in the socket, a bracket upon the rear side of the star above said central opening for hanging up the star, bolts located through said brackets and through the star, spacers upon said bolts, a disk upon said bolts spaced forwardly from the central opening by said spacers, there being recesses in the rear face of the star and dimples upon said brackets engaged in said recesses.

EUGENE 1L. SNYDER. LUCY E. SNYDER. 

